Theme Park Bits: ‘Ant-Man And The Wasp’ Ride Concept, Lunar New Year At Universal Hollywood, And More
In this edition of Theme Park Bits:
A slew of Disney park announcements came out of D23 Expo Japan 2018 this week. We’ve got most of the news compiled intoa separate article, but one new item that has since posted toDisney Parks Blogis the release of concept art for the new Ant-Man and the Wasp attraction that is coming to Hong Kong Disneyland.This week in Toy Story Land news: the Toy Box Cafe isnow open at Shanghai Disneyland.The imaginatively themed quick-service restaurant serves three-eyed alien pizza and other novelty food out of windows in the toy packages for Buzz Lightyear, Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear, and Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead. The rest of Shanghai’s Toy Story Land opens April 26.
Beginning this May,@Disneylandpark guests can encounter Rey at#StarWarsLaunch Bay in Tomorrowland:https://t.co/bgePAYrkfzpic.twitter.com/pZ1CfXUTTS
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks)June 13, 2025
The week wouldn’t be complete without some park news related toStar Wars,either. What we have this time around is the announcement thatRey will be getting her own meet-and-greet spotinStar WarsLaunch Bay at California’s Disneyland. Starting this May, the character will join the Light Side with Chewbacca while Darth Vader and Kylo Ren continue holding down the Dark Side.
Sweet tooth?
Start drooling over these deliciously NEW milkshakes now available at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium.https://t.co/yhR9LD2m5s.pic.twitter.com/Zh0pKctmWb
— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL)June 04, 2025
Three new milkshakesare available at the Toothsome Chocolate Factory & Savory Feast Kitchen in Universal Orlando’s CityWalk.
On the opposite coast, Universal Hollywood’s Lunar New Year event has kicked off andInside the Magichas some very cool video and photos showing Minions in Chinese costumes, the Mandarin-speaking Megatron, Po and Tigress from Kung Fu Panda, as well as Po’s trainer, the anthropomorphic crane, Mr. Ping, who is now appearing in a new interactive-puppet character encounter.
Movies and TV shows have given us gangs with names like the Dead Rabbits (Leonardo DiCaprio’s gang inGangs of New York) and theSons of Anarchy. The last place you would expect to see that kind of culture spill over is Disneyland, but apparently, a subculture of “social clubs” has formed around the park in recent years, with names like the White Rabbits and the Sons of Anakin popping up on denim motorcycle jackets decorated with pins and patches.
Club members with Disney tattoos make their way through the park and so great are their numbers that they can even sometimes take over every vehicle on a single ride. Now, a feud has broken out between club leaders as one sues another in civil court for the mob-like tactic of extorting “protection” money from him.The Los Angeles Timeshas more on this fascinating story.
.@DisneyLegend Bob Gurr Q&A panel to be held by “Walt Disney – Master of Dreamers” filmmakers in Celebrationhttps://t.co/Ww4g1zBFVCpic.twitter.com/TQfd3KFpSw
— Inside the Magic (@InsideTheMagic)August 06, 2025
On Saturday, April 28, legendary ride designer Bob Gurr will be participating in a Q&A panel in the Disney-developed community of Celebration, Florida, where he is expected to discuss Walt Disney’s journey from the 1964 New York World’s Fair to Epcot.Inside the Magichas more details about his appearance, which is hosted by the filmmakers behind the upcoming documentary “Walt Disney - Master of Dreamers.”
If you’re not in the know about speedrunning, it’s the practice of playing through a video game as fast as possible. AsUSgamerreports, an Oakland-based software engineer is now applying the same concept to Disneyland. She’s plotting a speedrun of the park that would see her do “everything on the map” in one 16-hour day.
REVIEW: Splitsville Luxury Lanes Opens in Downtown Disneyhttps://t.co/5eXNWRZYflpic.twitter.com/X2yRRwol9K
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT)August 13, 2025
WDW News Todayhas a review up of the new Splitsville Luxury Lanes bowling facility in the Downtown Disney District.
Prepping for 9:45 am opening Disney Home Store Opening Downtown Disney Anaheimpic.twitter.com/99ZLyoODG8
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place)August 07, 2025
If you’re not content to just visit theme parks, but would actually like to integrate Disney into more of your home life, then Downtown Disney may hold just the right store for you. The appropriately named “Disney Home” store opened on Valentine’s Day andLaughingPlace.comwas there tweeting up a storm.
And here we are inside the former D Street, now#DisneyHomeat#DowntownDisneyAnaheim.pic.twitter.com/fBn9DC68Ch
Lots of Disney accessories for your home in the new#DisneyHomeStore that just opened today at#DowntownDisneyAnaheim.pic.twitter.com/N2HeJd2YC9
What an appropriate first purchase at the Valentine’s Day opening of the new#DisneyHomestore at#DowntownDisneyAnaheim. Proud customers Jack and Terri Marr can say that they were the first!pic.twitter.com/buvXbwHTXB
Much more to see at the just-opened#DisneyHomeStore at#DowntownDisneyAnaheim.pic.twitter.com/BNzH6lvtA8
The site also posted aDisneyland Resort updatethis week:
We update the goings-on at Disneyland including breakfast at Red Rose Tavernehttps://t.co/rdCrMQguq9pic.twitter.com/8wjve8AZwf
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place)June 04, 2025
For online shoppers, YesterEars hastwo new limited-release t-shirtswith retro patterns depicting Mickey’s Toontown and the Country Bear Jamboree available on shopDisney from now until February 22.
Meanwhile,The Disney Bloghas info on the increase in ticket prices at Disney parks.
Knott’s Berry Farm’s Sky Cabin has reopened againhttps://t.co/Vo79Invayqpic.twitter.com/MyZILkPMg6
— O.C. Register (@ocregister)August 17, 2025
Last but not least,The O.C. Registerreports that the Knott’s Berry Sky Farm Cabin has reopened after being closed for more than a year.
